ICE Renews Focus on Worksite Enforcement

In June, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) released its five-year strategic plan for the fiscal years 2010-2014.  Included within the agency’s top priorities is a renewed commitment to the realization of an effective worksite enforcement program.  ICE’s two-prong strategy for worksite enforcement includes: (1) aggressive criminal and civil enforcement against employers who knowingly violate the law; and (2) continued implementation of programs, such as E-Verify and ICE’s IMAGE program.

In light of the focus on increased worksite enforcement, it will be essential in the coming years for employers to pay close attention to their own internal hiring practices, including the diligent completion and retention of the Form I-9.  Indeed, when ICE serves a Notice of Inspection, demanding the review of a company’s I-9s, it is often too late to demonstrate compliance.  It is now more important than ever that employers properly prepare and maintain their I-9s before ICE becomes involved.

Read ICE’s strategic plan here.